Switcher Saturday 6-4-22

Good morning JHZ563 and happy SWSAT.

New Haven #3400 was a USRA 0-8-0 heavy switcher built by Alco (Schenectady). It was one of thirty-five Y-3 class engines delivered to the railroad between 1920 and 1923. The nominal weight of a standard USRA 0-8-0 was 364,000 pounds (engine and tender) and its tractive force was 51,042 pounds at 175 pounds-per-square-inch boiler pressure with 51-inch driving wheel diameter. Cylinder bore was 25 inches and piston stroke 28 inches. Although its Y-3 class switchers were successful, the New Haven bought sixteen Y-4 class three-cylinder switchers between 1924 and 1927. They produced 60,500 pounds of tractive force. The last New Haven 0-8-0 switcher was retired in 1952.

My model of New Haven #3400 was offered by MTH Premier (20-3148-2 with PS2 and scale wheels) in its 2005 Volume 1 Catalog at an MSRP of $599.95. At the time, I bought several MTH models with scale wheels. They run well on my Atlas O-54 curves but I have had to add a (removable) modification to the frogs of my Atlas O-54 switches so that they don’t derail on the curved path of the turnouts. I plan to buy only three-rail wheels in the future.

The pictures and video show #3400 pulling New Haven Dairy refrigerated milk car GICX300 (by Weaver Models), New Haven steel boxcar #33406 (by MTH) and New Haven NE6 caboose C-681 (by Atlas O). The train speed in the videos is 16.5 scale miles-per-hour.

MELGAR

JHZ, thanks for getting the most entertaining thread on the Forum rolling again!

The SwSat faithful will remember your Yardmaster snapped a photo of a NH RS3 and GP9 in the South Worcester yard last Saturday.  After the train departed, he decided to chase the train into CT to see if he could film it in action.  He stopped in Putnam, CT because he heard there were some good bars in town.  A day chasing trains always ends well with a couple of cold Gansetts!

John

Happy Switcher Sat everyone!  Here is my little B6 switcher waiting to move out after picking up a load from the factory -

We have a tropical storm hitting us down here in South Florida.  When that happens, it means work and play on the layout all day.  If we were in the cone of a hurricane, that would mean pack up the layout, so I consider this a good thing.

Happy SWSat!

Another great start this week. Stay safe down in Florida @Strap Hanger.

This week a set of NYC switchers are doing their thing. First up is a small but mighty Plymouth pulling a few ore cars. These little buggers were made by K-line, have cast bodies and great details. They can smoke up a storm too. They were offered with shorter couplers which I don't have for this one since I bought it 2nd hand. They can pull 6-8 post war cars without breaking a sweat.

Next is a pair of S2's. Interesting comparison between a MTH model and a K-line. I always knew the K-line's were not to scale but next to an MTH model the differences are striking.

The crew grabbed a caboose for a shoving platform and picked up a few cars for the trip back to the interchange yard.

Hope everyone has a great weekend.

Bob

@Steam Crazy posted:

The SwSat faithful will remember your Yardmaster snapped a photo of a NH RS3 and GP9 in the South Worcester yard last Saturday.  After the train departed, he decided to chase the train into CT to see if he could film it in action.  He stopped in Putnam, CT because he heard there were some good bars in town.  A day chasing trains always ends well with a couple of cold Gansetts!

John

John,

I've been making the trip between New York/CT and Boston for sixty years but I've been through Putnam maybe once in all that time... Is that an MGA parked by the fence in your video? I used to have one. Nice selection of New Haven cars and locomotives.

MELGAR

Good morning fellow switcher fans!  Thanks JHZ563 for notching out the throttle and getting us rolling this morning!!  Wonderful posts everyone!   Have a terrific weekend everyone!!

Today's photos are mostly centered around the Junction.  I.C. Thrulenz, the FSJR photographer, spent a good part of the week photographing switcher activity at Butler Junction.   I.C. is a big fan of the little engine that does big things!  He caught both steam and diesel switchers doing their BIG  thing.  

( Click on photos to enlarge. )

Standing on the overhead walkway I.C. caught 0-8-0 number 75 taking on water at the tower.  Fireman Otis T. Smucker stands on the tender's rear deck about to pull down the spout ... while brakeman Lyle Norton stands on the front step of number 75.  In this photo number 75 is practically brand new with a shiny paint job.  I wonder what how her paint job will look in about 10 years?

I.C captured number 75 from this angle.  Her boiler gleams in the morning sun.

A Pennsy 44 tonner makes its' way through the junction with a cut of loaded hopper cars.

Brakeman Cliff Braxton stands at the rear of Washington Terminal Co. RS1 number 63 at the locomotive pushes a string of boxcars thru the junction.

Washington Terminal RS 1 number 63 works the team track.

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Conductor Ross Klompford, or Klompy as he's  known  by his railroad brethren, stands on the deck of a Pennsy 44 tonner while contemplating the next switching move.

Mel, you have a good eye!  Yes, it’s an MGA.  Here’s a photo of it along with cars belonging to fellow members of the Worcester Sports Car Club.  They stopped for lunch at the Cafe (a Plasticville building) after a spirited morning drive to Mt Wachusett in Princeton, MA.

Putnam is known for its restaurants (including one in the restored depot) and antique shops.  You would probably enjoy a visit.

John

Mel. The train museum is open today. 1 - 4 PM.

Try to stop by.

Good morning SWSAT fans!

This week is somewhat of a repeat of last weeks offering.  Same train, different location:

Tom

@RSJB18 posted:

Happy SWSat!

Another great start this week. Stay safe down in Florida @Strap Hanger.

Thanks Bob!  Just gloomy dark with a lot of rain.  Sort of like those dark, winter,  storm days in ny, but with heat and rain instead of cold snow and sleet. It’s the perfect day for an Atlas switch track rewiring project on my subway level that I’ve been putting off.

Hey @Putnam Division besides an MGA you have 2 TR-3's and at least one of them (I can see the grill) is a TR-3A "convertible"  which had a minuscule rear seat about 6" wide to distinguish it from the "roadster".  I had a '59 TR-3A convertible in red /black in 1962...it was my first car.

Well back to switchers...my story today is that my little Hornby 101 that has been re-engined with a Marx mechanism to make it electric, has a job to do this morning.  Besides taking the morning hop up to Macon, it has to pick up a box car full of LCL merchandise to move up the line as well.  So the engineer has dropped the passenger cars in front of the depot and is backing up to get the box (actually an automobile car but the RR uses it for LCL freight on low volume days.

Here is an overview of the switching move, as we get ready to pick up that American Flyer # 115 Automobile box car from 1927-1929.  He has been loaded and set out behind the depot so all the switch crew have to do is pick it up and put it in the train.

Here is a somewhat closer view of the task.  Those passengers, some of whom are in a hurry to get to Macon in time for lunch are getting impatient for sure.  Well that's too bad, the Leonardtown and Savannah makes more money moving what's in the LCL box car than from all these passengers!   Those passenger cars by the way are American Flyer # 1206 "lightening bolt" cars from 1923-24.

Finally got that box car coupled up into the train and we're taking off for Macon on up the L&S about 1 hrs or so (unless we get sidelined by that premier passenger train "The Crescent" run by big brother the Southern, then it will be somewhat longer.

Here we go into the back country away from the coast.  This little guy can't take much more than 2-3 cars because the land back from the coast is quite hilly and even though she works hard the load up the grade would be too much.

Best wishes for a great weekend

Don

Hey Don,

With apologies to Putnam Division if I missed something, I think it’s my post of the sports cars you referred to.  I also had a 59 white/black TR3A.

The white car is a 57.  It was the only TR3 with a small grill (“smallmouth”) like the TR2 that preceded it.  The 58-61 TR3 A and 62 TR3B had the wide grill.

I believe Triumph never officially designated the TR3 as A or B.  That designation came from the press or enthusiasts.

Speaking of apologies, sorry to stray so far from switchers!  I get worked up about sports cars as easily as trains!

John

Here are a couple of shots of my new Williams by Bachmann 70-Tonner. Train World is blowing them out at $159 (if any are left) and I couldn’t resist at that price!  Beautiful little switcher.

Pushing full loads to the coal shutes on the Utacolzona RR.

@Dave Warburton posted:

Here are a couple of shots of my new Williams by Bachmann 70-Tonner. Train World is blowing them out at $159 (if any are left) and I couldn’t resist at that price!  Beautiful little switcher.

They are great engines Dave. I have the Rutland. I wish they offered them in more road names. A couple east coast fallen flags come to mind....😉😉

Hi guys, great photos of all your switchers! Also what great looking scenes on wonderful layouts! Here is my offering for today!

Its the BNSF mow crew getting ready to head out and load up on some supplies to do a few repairs!

Hope you all have a great Sunday!

@Steam Crazy posted:

Hey Don,

With apologies to Putnam Division if I missed something, I think it’s my post of the sports cars you referred to.  I also had a 59 white/black TR3A.

The white car is a 57.  It was the only TR3 with a small grill (“smallmouth”) like the TR2 that preceded it.  The 58-61 TR3 A and 62 TR3B had the wide grill.

I believe Triumph never officially designated the TR3 as A or B.  That designation came from the press or enthusiasts.

Speaking of apologies, sorry to stray so far from switchers!  I get worked up about sports cars as easily as trains!

John

I was a little confused.......I had not opened this thread today and then I saw I was quoted......me? About sports cars?

Let me tell you something, I can barely tell a Ford from a Honda......so any discussion on those fancy cars is certainly not me!  

Peter

Sorry all around. I just got confused about who was the author of the post. Sorry

Don

Don, no apology needed!  I think mistaking me for Peter is a compliment!

John

@Don McErlean posted:

Sorry all around. I just got confused about who was the author of the post. Sorry

Don

No problem…….I just think it’s funny since I know almost nothing about cars!
Peter

Looking great as usual crew.  Went to Strasburg today,  missed the last train.   So instead went to the Choo Choo barn layout.   You might say I saw a few Switchers

Wow, @jhgz563, The Choo Choo barn layout is a must see for those attending York, or even traveling through on vacations, it’s Amazing, great pictures, I’m late but here’s a CSXT switcher getting its orders for the day, and a SP switcher picking up some cars. Happy Railroading Everyone

@jhz563 posted:

Looking great as usual crew.  Went to Strasburg today,  missed the last train.   So instead went to the Choo Choo barn layout.   You might say I saw a few Switchers

WOW! After seeing your post John, I realized it's been about 10 years since we've been out to Strasburg. Last time we were there, my son and I got lost for about an hour playing with the G-gauge switching layout at the Railroad Museum. Wasn't till I got a tap on the shoulder and a stern look that I knew it was time to go...

Bob

I know that look!